Health insurance services to be linked with national ID card

Kathmandu, March 16: Health insurance services in Nepal will now be provided based on the national identity card under a new agreement between the relevant government agencies.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Health Insurance Board and the Department of National ID and Civil Registration to implement health insurance services using the national identity card system.

The agreement was signed by the Board’s Executive Director, Krishna Prasad Paudel, and the Director General of the Department, Namraj Ghimire.

According to the Board’s Information Officer, Bikesha Malla, citizens’ identities will be digitally verified through their national identity card numbers. This system is expected to make health insurance services more secure, faster and reliable.

He said the agreement allows integration of data between the two institutions, enabling health insurance services to be delivered through the national identity card.

Registration and renewal of health insurance using the national identity card will begin on April 8, Malla added.

Currently, approximately 10.2 million people are enrolled in the national health insurance programme administered by the Health Insurance Board.